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REYNARD THE FOX 



/ 









GOOD EVENING,” said the Cat. 
“ The King orders you 
to return without delay.” 









REYNARD 
THE FOX 

TOLD BY C ‘ S • EVANS 

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY 

L- R- BRIGHTWELL 



NEW YORK 

DODD. MEAD & COMPANY 













PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY THE WHITEFRIARS PRESS, LTD., 
LONDON AND TONBRIDGE. 


GIFT 

publisher 


TO DWYE 














THESE ARE THE STORIES 


PAGE 

Why Reynard was not at Court ... 9 

How Bruin took the King’s Message . . 16 

How the Wild Cat fared . . . . . 23 

How Reynard came to Court .... 30 

How the Fox was condemned to Death . . 40 

How Reynard told of the Treasure . 47 

How the Wicked Fox won Freedom 

by Treachery ....... 50 

How Cuwaert the Hare met a Dreadful Fate . 54 

How Bellyn Ram returned to Court . . .61 

How more Complaints of Reynard’s Wicked¬ 
ness were brought to the King . . .65 

How Grimbert the Badger 
warned Reynard. . . 71 

^ J How Reynard feasted Grimbert . 75 

How Reynard came to Court a Second Time . 81 

How Dame Rukenaw came to Reynard’s Aid . 87 

How Reynard told a Wondrous Tale of 

Three Jewels ....... 93 

How Reynard reminded the King of his Virtues . 105 

How Reynard answered his Accusers . . in 

How Reynard fought Isegrim the Wolf . . 119 















THE WICKED FOX CARRIES HOME 
HIS PREY. 


WHY REYNARD WAS NOT AT COURT 


T was Whitsuntide ; the forest and the 
fields were gay with flowers and sweet 
singing birds. All the beasts were stir¬ 
ring, for this was the day on which the 
great meeting of animals was to take 
place. King Lion had bidden all his 
subjects to come to his Court. None 
must be absent. So along every way 
they came : the Wolf, the Wild Cat, 
the Dog, the Panther, the Badger, Bruin 
the Bear, and a host of others. One 
alone was not there, and that was Reynard 
the Fox. 

The reason for his absence was soon 
seen. There was hardly one of the beasts who had not 
some complaint to make about him. The angriest one of 
all was the Wolf. 

“ Your Majesty,” he said, “ will you please punish 
that rascal Reynard ? Not a day passes but what he does 
some mischief to me. It would take many a week to tell 

9 










you of all the evil he has done. 
Three of my little children are 
now sitting at home crying because 
Reynard has blinded them with 
dust.” 

“You are not the only one he has 
harmed,” said the Dog. “ One 
winter, great King, Reynard stole 
my last meal, a piece of sausage 
which I had hidden in a bush.” 

“You have little to grumble 
about,” said the Wild Cat. “ The 
sausage was mine, 
your Majesty ! I 
took it from a shelf 








in the mill while the miller’s wife was asleep. The Dog 
stole it from me.” 

“ Look what Reynard did to the Hare ! ” said the Panther, 
pointing to a wound in the Hare’s neck. “ This poor 
fellow met the Fox last week. ‘ Let me teach you how to 
say your prayers in Latin,’ said Reynard, ‘and then you 
will be able to take a good post in the church.’ The Hare 
agreed, and Reynard made him get down on his knees, 
but before he had said half-a-dozen words Reynard 
seized him by the throat, and if I had not come along just 
then he certainly would have killed him.” 

‘ ‘ These tales would not be told if my uncle were present,” 
cried Reynard’s nephew, the Badger, angrily. “ The Wolf 
has treated my uncle in a very evil manner more than 
once. Some time ago the Wolf and Reynard agreed to 









work together and share whatever food they got. One 
day as they were walking behind the hedge that borders 
the road they saw a man come along with a cartload of 
fish. Their mouths watered, for they were both hungry, 
and Reynard soon thought of a plan to get some of the 
fish. 

“ ‘ You stay behind the cart and keep a good watch,’ 
he said to the Wolf. Then he ran along by the hedge, 
and came out into the road a long way in front of the 
carter. Here he lay down in a rut, and when the cart 
drew near, shut his eyes, held his breath and stiffened 
his body. 

“ ‘ Ah ! ’ said the man when he saw Reynard. ‘ Here’s 
a dead fox. His skin ought to fetch a good sum of money 
in the next town.’ With that he picked up the Fox and 
threw him on the back of the cart. No sooner was the 
man’s back turned than Reynard came to life again. Fish 
after fish he kicked into the roadway, while the Wolf 
followed and picked them up. 

“ When the Fox had thrown down enough, he jumped 
to the Wolf for a share of the plunder. 

“ ‘ Here is your share,’ said the Wolf, as he pointed to a 
heap of fish bones. ‘ I hope you’ll enjoy the feast.’ And 
off he went.” 

“ Well ! ” said the King, “ is there anything more ? ” 


12 







“ There is,’’ said the Badger. “ Another time the Wolf 
and the Fox heard that a peasant had killed a fat pig and 
hung it up on a wooden peg in his larder. They both 
felt very hungry for this pig, so they went to the peasant’s 
house. After a great deal of trouble my uncle was able 
to get through a window into the larder. With a struggle 
he managed to throw the pig, peg as well, out of the window. 
The Wolf ran off with the prize, leaving Reynard to get 
out as best he could. When the Fox did get out of the 
house he was set upon by the peasant’s dogs. They gave 
him a sorry time, but after a long run he escaped from 
them and made his way back. 

“ When he came up to the Wolf, who looked fat and 
happy, he could see no sign of the pig. ‘ Haven’t you 
saved any for me ? ’ he asked angrily. 

“ ‘ Why, of course,’ answered the Wolf. ‘ Nobody can say 
I am greedy. Here’s a tasty tit-bit for you.’ And he flung 
the Fox the wooden peg on which the pig had been 
hung.” 

Just as the Badger ended his tale there was a com¬ 
motion outside, and the next minute there marched into 
the Court a very strange procession. 

In front was Henning the Cock ; behind him were two 
young cocks, bearing a bier on which lay the headless body 
of Henning’s daughter, Scratchfoot. On either side walked 
13 



a brother of the dead hen carrying a white candle ; and 
after him came many relations of the deceased, all crying 
most miserably. 

“ What does all this mean ? ” asked the King. 

“ Alas ! sire ! ” said Henning, pointing to the bier, 
“ this is Reynard’s work. I had ten sons and fifteen 
daughters and we all lived happily in a farmyard belonging 
to rich monks. Round the yard was a strong wall, and six 
large dogs were inside to protect us. Many a time has 
Reynard tried to get into the yard, but the dogs at last 
gave him such a bad time that he left us alone. 

“ One day we heard a knocking at the gate, and looking 
over, I saw the Fox dressed as a hermit. 

“ ‘ You need not be afraid of me any more,’ he said. ‘ I 
have taken a vow never again to eat flesh. I am going 
to read holy books and pray for the rest of my life. My 
only food will be berries and barley bread. Good-bye, 
dear Henning, for it is now time for me to go and say my 
prayers.’ 

“ I called all my children together and told them the 
good news, that they need no longer go in mortal fear of 



the Fox. Away out of the gate they ran. But that sly 
Reynard was hiding in a bush, and in a moment he sprang 
upon my children and killed fifteen of them. Poor Scratch- 
foot’s body was the only one he did not eat, for the dogs 
came along just in time to stop him.” 

When the King heard Henning’s sad story he was very 
angry with Reynard and his nephew, the Badger. 

He ordered that Scratchfoot should be given a grand 
funeral, and caused a marble slab to be placed over her 
grave ; and on the slab these words were written :— 

“ Here lies Scratchfoot, 

Daughter of Henning the Cock, 

She was skilful in scratching, and laid many eggs.” 

As for Reynard, a messenger was to be sent to order him 
to appear at the Court at once. Bruin the Bear was chosen 
as messenger. 

“ Be careful,” said the King, before Bruin started. 
“ Reynard is full of sly ways, and he will play a trick on 
you if you are not watchful.” 

“ I know all his tricks,” said the Bear proudly. “ He 




HOW BRUIN TOOK THE KING’S MESSAGE 

RUIN started off at once on his 
journey to find the Fox and give 
him the King’s order. 

Now Reynard was rich enough 
to own several houses. The 
strongest of them all was the 
Castle of Malpertuis, built high 
among the rocks. Here the Fox 
was able to hide himself, even if 
his enemies got over the strong 
walls. Underneath the house ran 
thousands of passages, all twisted 
and dark, and nobody knew 
his way along these passages 
except Reynard and his wife. 

So Bruin set out to find Reynard, and after visiting all 
his houses in turn came at last to the Castle of Malpertuis. 
The gates were locked, and everything was quiet when the 
Bear arrived. Bang ! Bang ! knocked Bruin on the door. 
Not a sound was heard. 



16 










POOR BRUIN. 


18 


\ 



“ Reynard ! Reynard ! ” he cried loudly. “ Open the 
door. I am Bruin the Bear, and I come from King Lion 
to bid you appear before him at once.” 

Still not a sound was heard ; for although the Fox heard 
every word, he was not going to open the gate till he knew 
that the Bear was alone. 

When he was certain that only the Bear was outside he 
ran inside and put on his hermit’s gown. Then, holding 
a book in his hand, he opened the gate. 

“ I am very sorry I have kept you waiting. I was just 
in the middle of my prayers. You cannot know how pleased 
I am to see you. Come inside and rest yourself. I am 
not feeling well enough to start for the Court to-day. You 
know I’ve given up eating flesh, and honey is the only food 
that is plentiful about here. I am afraid I feel ill through 
the eating of too much of the nasty stuff.” 

“ Nasty stuff ! ” said Bruin, to whom honey was the 
nicest thing in the world. “If you can show me where 
to get my fill I will do my best for you at the Court.” 

“ Do you say so ? ” answered Reynard. “ Why, I 
know a place where there is so much honey that 
you could not drink it dry in 
seven years. If you will be a 
friend to me at Court I will 
show you the place.” 

“ Let us go at once,” said 
Bruin, whose mouth was water¬ 
ing. “ I will do all I can for 
you.” 

So the two set off for the farm- 

19 







yard of a woodcutter who lived in the valley. In the yard 
lay a huge oak tree which the woodcutter had felled the day 
before. To split this he had driven in two big wedges 
which made a great crack right along the trunk. No one 
was in the yard, for the woodcutter had gone into the 
house for a nap. 

“ Here is the well,” said Reynard, pointing to the crack 
in the tree. “ Put your mouth down as far as you can and 
eat as much honey as you like.” 

It was not long before Bruin had his head and forefeet 
in the crack, and as soon as Reynard saw that the Bear was 
busy he gave a hard tug at the wedges. Out they came, 
the trunk closed up, and Bruin was caught in a trap. 

Such a roaring and struggling as the Bear set up ! You 
20 









never heard such a noise. The Fox grinned, and told 
himself it was time to be off. 

“ How do you like the taste of the honey ? ” said Reynard. 
“ Do not eat too much, for the woodcutter will bring you 
something else to eat in a moment. Good-day ! ” and off 
he went. 

Meanwhile, the woodcutter, hearing the noise, came out 
to see what was the matter. When he saw what had 
happened he shouted: “ Neighbours ! here’s a bear 

caught in my yard. Come and have some sport! ” 

Everybody in the village left his work to come. Some 
carried sticks, some spades, some axes, and others hammers. 
All had some weapon to beat poor Bruin. So great a hail 
of blows rained on his back that, with a furious tug he pulled 
himself free from the tree, leaving behind him his ears and 
claws. Away he went down the road, and away after him 
went the crowd. Sticks were thrown at him, and at every 
corner some one would spring out and give him a blow. 
Blinded with pain he neither saw nor cared where he went, 
and suddenly he ran into a crowd of women who were 
standing by the river watching the fun. 

Over went the Priest’s cook 
into the water. “ Two silver 
crowns to the man who gets her 
out,” shouted the Priest. Every 
one left the Bear to save the 
cook. Bruin took the chance of 
escape, and jumped into the 
river and swam away. 

A mile or two down the river 



21 


he climbed on the bank, and for a long time lay as if dead. 
Then he arose and turned towards home. 

For four days he crawled along covered with bruises and 
blood. Hardly able to put one foot before the other he 
reached the Court. No one would have seen in the 
miserable creature that returned the lordly Bear who had 
gone out a few days before. 

“ Surely this is not Bruin,” said the King. “ Whatever 
has happened ? ” 

When the Bear had told his story the King’s anger was 
terrible to see, and he uttered threats of vengeance. 

“ Where strength has failed cunning may succeed,” said 
he. “I will send the Cat to fetch Reynard to Court. He 
is not very big, but he has all his wits about him.” 



22 



HOW THE WILD CAT FARED 


HE Cat did not care very much for the 
work he had to do ; but he started 
off, making up his mind not to be 
tricked as Bruin had been. It was 
evening when he reached Malpertius 
and found Reynard sitting in his front 
garden. 

“ Good evening ! ” said the Cat. 
“ The King orders you to return 
with me without delay.” 

“ I hope you are in good health,” answered the Fox. 
“ I will certainly come with you in the morning. In the 
meantime, will you not step inside and have something to 
eat ? I would have returned with Bruin, only he was 
such an ill-mannered fellow.” 

“ I think we had better go at once,” said the Cat. “ It 
is a fine night ; the moon is shining and the roads are 
dry.” 

“ But, my dear Cat,” said Reynard, “it is so much 

23 




more pleasant in the daytime, and all sorts of rascals are 
about at night.” 

“Well, if I stay, what can you give me to eat ? ” he 
asked. 

“ I am very poor and live plainly,” said Reynard, “ but 
I think I can find you a good meal of honey.” 

“ No ! ” said the Cat, remembering in what a sad state 
poor Bruin had come back. “ I am not fond of honey. 
Now, if you had a mouse, I could manage with that.” 

“ Mouse ! ” said the Fox, “ why, I know a barn not far 
from here where there are wagon-loads of mice. The 
Priest who lives there is always grumbling about the 
mischief they do.” 

“ I should very much like to go and see the place of 
which you speak,” said the Cat. 

“ Come on, then,” said Reynard, and away down the 
road the two went together. 

A day or two before this the Fox had found out that the 
Priest kept his chickens in the barn. So he made a big 
hole under the wall and stole the finest bird he could find. 
The Priest’s little son, Martin, had made up his mind to 
catch the Fox if he came that way again, so getting a piece 
of string he had tied one end to a nail, and at the other 
end he had made a slip-knot, which he placed over the 
hole. But Reynard was too sly to be caught easily. It 
did not take him long to find out about the trap that had 
been set for him, and he had taken good care not to venture 
inside that barn again. 

“ Here’s the place,” said Reynard, when they reached 
the barn. '* Can’t you hear the mice squeaking ? The 
24 














hole at the bottom of the wall leads right inside. I’ll 
keep watch outside while you go in ; but don’t be long, for 
we must be up early in the morning to make ready for our 
journey.” 

In went the Cat, and before he knew what had happened 
the slip-knot was round his neck. He tugged and tugged, 
but the more he pulled the tighter the string became, 
and the poor thing felt that he would very soon choke. 

“ Are the mice tasty and fat ? ” shouted Reynard through 
the hole. “ Don’t make so much noise or you’ll frighten 
them all away. It’s a pity you have to eat them cold, but 
Martin will bring you something warm in a minute,” 
and, calling on his way at another farmyard to get a chicken 
for supper, the Fox trotted home. 

The noise made by the Cat awoke Martin, whose bed¬ 
room was close by. “ Father, get up ! ” he shouted. 
“ The Fox is caught in my trap ! ” 

Up jumped the Priest, and putting on a cloak, he ran 
downstairs with Martin to the barn. The servants all 
rushed out of their bedrooms when they heard the clatter, 
thinking that the house must be on fire. Away went all 
of them pell-mell to the barn to repay the Fox for his 
theft. It was too dark to see that it was no Fox that was 
caught in the trap, so the poor Cat got a terrible beating, 
besides being blinded in one eye. Mad with pain, he 
sprang at the nearest person to him, who happened to be 
the Priest. The Priest’s legs were so covered with bites 
and scratches that he had to be carried into the house and 
the Cat was left alone. 


26 



Mad with pain, he sprang at the nearest 
person to him, who happened to be the Priest. 


27 




Though he nearly felt dead he knew that now was 
his only chance of getting free, for if his enemies returned 
there would be little left of him. So he gnawed as hard 
as he could at the string, and was just able to get loose 
as some of the servants returned. 

The next morning into the Court of King Lion there 
walked the most miserable cat that any one ever saw. 
Blind in one eye, covered with bruises, and with patches 
of fur missing, he looked the most unhappy of cats. 
When the King heard his tale he was angrier than ever. 

“ I will punish Reynard without a trial,” he said. “ He 
has had too many chances. Call all of my soldiers together ; 
we will burn him out of Malpertius and give him no 
mercy.” 

“ Great King ! ” said the Badger. “ Reynard may 
have done much wrong, but he has the right to be called 
to Court three times. If he does not come the next time, 
then let him be found guilty. Please allow him to be sent 
for once more.” 


“ Well ! as you are so anxious for Reynard,” said the 
Lion, “ you shall fetch him yourself. Mind you do not 
return without him, or you will be sorry for it.” 



28 


THE NEXT MORNING THERE LIMPED INTO 

THE COURT OF KING LION 

the 


most 

MISERABLE CAT 
anyone 
ever 



29 





HOW REYNARD CAME TO COURT 

then went Grimbert the Badger, 
and it was not long before he was 
knocking at the door of Castle Mal- 
pertius. Reynard himself came and 
let him in, and then led the way to 
an inner room, where his wife lay 
with a litter of cubs around her. 

“ Good morning, dear Uncle and 
Aunt,” said Grimbert. “ I am glad to see you and the 
children so well.” 

“ Good morning,” said Reynard, “ and what brings you 
all this way ? ” 

“ Well, to tell the truth,” said Grimbert, “ the King 
sent me to bring you to Court, and if you take my advice 
you will come quietly, for he is very angry with you. If 
you do not come he swears that he will lay siege to your 
castle, or burn you out of it, if necessary ! ” 

“ Will the King try to punish me ? ” asked Reynard. 

“ Yes, he will,” said the Badger ; “ but what need you 
30 



care about that ? Have you not still your nimble wit and 
cunning ? They will not fail you, I am sure. Many a 
time have you run much greater risks.” 

Reynard thought for a little. “ Very well, nephew,” 
he said at last, “ I will return with you. Let us set out at 
once. And you, wife,” he added, turning to the mother 
fox, “ take care of the little ones while I am away, and 
especially Reynkin. I love him the best of all, for every day 
he grows more like myself, and should make a thief of great 
renown in time ! ” 

Then, after taking a tender farewell of Mrs. Reynard and 
the children, the two set out, and before long arrived at the 
Court of King Lion. 

All the beasts were gathered together in the judgment 
place, for the news of Reynard’s coming had spread far 
and wide. There sat King Lion on his throne with the 
Queen beside him. On one side the Tiger held the Royal 
Standard, and on the other was the Leopard. Bruin the 
Bear had a front place, and sat rubbing his sore nose, and 
there, too, was Tybert the Cat, with the rope that had 
nearly choked him still hanging round his neck. 

Reynard did not show any sign of fear. Marching 
boldly up to the throne, he bowed low and said : “ Hail, 
King ! Reynard, your true and faithful servant, comes at 
your command. They tell me that wicked beasts have 
spoken evil of me. Let them speak their lies to my face, 
and I will answer them ! ” 

“ Peace, vile traitor ! ” cried the King. “Not again 
shall your cunning words deceive me. Answer me this : 
Have you kept the peace I swore throughout my realm ? ” 

3i 



32 









c 





























At this the Cock, who had been listening eagerly, could 
no longer keep silence, and called out: 

“ Aye, the peace ! Did he keep the peace when he killed 
my children ? ” 

“ Hold your tongue,” said the King, “ justice shall be 
done.” Then to the Fox he said : “ Robber and murderer, 
answer for what you did to my good friends Bruin the Bear 
and Tybert the Cat.” 

“ Answer, indeed,” grumbled the Fox. “ Is it my fault 
if Bruin has a sore nose ? He stole the farmer’s honey and 
got a good beating for his pains. Am I to blame ? As for 
Tybert the Cat, I did all I could to stop him from going to 
the Priest’s house, but he took no notice. He loved mice 
better than good deeds. Am I to blame for that ? ” 



35 


At this the Ram started forward. “ There is no truth in 
what this villain says, O King ! ” he cried. “ He has 
deserved death. Let him die ! ” 

And then all the other beasts cried out for Reynard to be 
given up to them. 






And LOUDEST of all 

cried Bruin the Bear, 

and Isegrim the Wolf, 
and Tybert the Cat, 
and- 





Chanticleer the Cock. Even the timid Hare, though he 
was trembling with fright, raised his voice, 
and the 
Goose 
came 
and 

quacked 

her 

loudest. 





So loud grew the din that it was a long time before the 
King could make himself heard. Then, 

“ Let him be arrested,” 
he cried, 

“ and cast into prison. 

We will decide 
what 

his punishment 
shall be.” 



39 




HOW THE FOX WAS CONDEMNED TO DEATH 

did not take the Court very long to 
decide that Reynard was guilty of all the 
crimes with which he had been charged. 
He had not a single friend among the 
animals, except Grimbert the Badger, 
and although Grimbert did his best to 
save him, it was all in vain. He was 
brought from prison to hear his doom. 

“ Reynard,” said King Lion, “ you 
have been judged fairly, and found 
guilty of murder, theft, and many other crimes. The 
sentence of the Court is that you be hanged. Have you 
anything to say ? ” 

The wily Fox at once began a long and flattering speech, 
for he thought that even at the last minute he might get 
off. The King listened gravely, but in silence, and at the 
end signed for the Fox to be taken away to the place of 
execution. 

Tybert the Cat, Isegrim the Wolf, and Bruin the Bear 
40 









had been chosen as executioners, and they at once seized 
upon poor Reynard and dragged him off to a high tree that 
stood close by. 

“ Here is a gallows ready-made for us,” said Isegrim ; 
“ let us make haste and hang the villain, for he is so cunning 
that if we delay he may escape us again ! ” 

“Yes, make haste,” said the Fox. “I wish nothing 
better than to be put out of my misery. See, Tybert has 
a cord. It hangs round his neck—it is the same one that 
nearly choked him to death when he went to steal the 
Priest’s mice. He is good at climbing. Let him hurry 
and fix the rope.” 

“ That’s the first wise thing I’ve heard you say to-day,” 
grumbled Bruin the Bear. “Up with you, Tybert. We’ll 
hold him fast while you go.” 

So Tybert ran quickly up the tree and tied the rope on 
to a stout branch. Then a ladder was brought, and every¬ 
thing was ready. 

“ Now,” said Bruin, “ say your prayers, villain, for you 
have only two minutes more ! ” 

“ Before I die,” said Reynard, “ I would like to speak one 
word to the King. Will you ask him to draw near to me ? ” 

At first the Bear flatly refused, but Reynard told him 
what he had to say was very important, and at last he 
agreed. So the King and Queen came up to the gallows 
tree. 

“ What is it you want ? ” asked King Lion. 

“ I wish to beg one boon, O King,” said Reynard. 
“ Before I die let me confess my sins to you and plead for 
your forgiveness.” 


4* 


“ Very well,” said the King, “ I see no harm in that, but 
you must be quick about it.” 

“ I have led a very wicked life, O King,” said Reynard. 
“ I freely confess it, and I am sorry for it. But yet there 
is a good deal to be said for me. It is true I killed Chanti¬ 
cleer’s children, the little chickens, but then it is my nature 
to kill, and my mother taught me so to get my food. It is 
true also that by cunning tricks I got the better of Tybert 
the Cat and Bruin the Bear, but then it is my nature to be 
cunning, and this my mother taught me also. Sly Reynard 
am I called with truth, but if I had not been sly I should 
long ago have died of starvation ! ” 

“ And a good riddance ! ” said Bruin. 

Reynard did not even look at him. “ A hard life was 
mine from my babyhood, your Majesty,” he went on. 
“ Many a day have I gone hungry, and many a time have 
I been nearly beaten to death by men when I went to rob 
their hen roosts. Only one stroke of fortune have I ever 
had in all my life, and that was when I discovered a cave 
full of silver and gold.” 

The King pricked up his ears at this. 

“ A cave full of gold did you say ? ” he asked. 

“Yes, your Majesty,” sighed Reynard. “ A cave full of 
treasures so rich that nobody could count them all—silver 
and gold and precious stones past all belief. Little good 
will those riches do me now when I am so soon to die.” 

“ But, Reynard, my dear friend,” said the King, “ you 
will surely not die before you have told me where I can find 
these wonderful treasures ! ” 

“ Alas ! ” answered Reynard, “ I would gladly tell your 
42 


Majesty if you alone were concerned, but how can I speak 
in front of all these creatures who hate me, and who, even 
now, when I am so near to death, think that I am merely 
telling you a lying tale to save my skin ? ” 

It was true. Bruin the Bear was already opening his 
mouth to speak, and Tybert the Cat was pulling at the 
rope, for they both saw their enemy about to escape from 
their hands. 

The King, too, had doubts, but his greed overcame his 
prudence, and he bade all the animals stand back. 



43 


“ Now, Reynard,” said he, “ we are alone and nobody 
can hear. Tell me where this cave of treasures lies.” 

Then Reynard looked at the King and hid a smile, for 
he knew that his life was safe. 

“ And what reward will your Majesty give me,” he asked 
boldly, “ if I make you richer than any of the kings on the 
earth ? ” 

“ Why, what reward do you wish ? ” asked the King. 

“ My life ! ” said Reynard, “ my life to serve you well 
henceforward, and to be at your command.” 



44 






The King was silent a moment. Then, “ I grant 
it,” he said. “ Now, tell me quickly.” 

“ Will your Majesty not first of all tell all the creatures 
that you have shown me mercy ? ” asked the cunning 
Reynard. He knew that once King Lion had declared 
his will to his subjects he would not for very pride depart 
from it. 

So then King Lion stepped back from the tree, and 
bending down, picked up a straw from the grass. Then, 
turning to his people, he gravely broke the straw in two and 
said : 



45 




“ Even as this straw is broken, so I declare the law broken 
that condemned my friend Reynard to death. He has 
proved to me his goodwill. Cast off his bonds and set him 
free ! ” 

There was an angry cry from all the beasts, but it was 
kept under, for none dared to rebel against the King’s 
command. Grimbert the Badger ran eagerly forward and 
hastened to undo the rope from his uncle’s neck. 

“ O, clever Reynard ! ” he whispered. “ Did I not tell 
you that your wit was more than a match for these dullards ! 
Look how Tybert the Cat is swelling his tail ! He can 
hardly see for anger ! ” 



This is 
TYBERT 
THE 
CAT 


46 



HOW REYNARD TOLD OF THE TREASURE 


as Reynard was set free the 
King commanded him to come 
and tell him of the where¬ 
abouts of the treasure. 

“ All in good time,” said 
Reynard. “ First let me 
describe the cave itself and 
how I found it. One day, 
when I was out hunting, I came 
upon a hole, and thinking it 
would make a fine earth for 
me I entered. The hole was 
narrow at first and winding, 
and after a time it widened out, and I found myself in a 
vast hall lit by many lamps. What did I see there ? How 
can I describe the wonders that met my eyes ? ” 

“ Gold ? ” asked the King, licking his dry lips. 

“ Aye, gold and gold and gold ! Golden vessels and 

47 










vases and bars, gold-embroidered robes, and golden armour, 
and swords and spears. Gold in heaps so that the eye was 
dazzled by it. And this was not all,” Reynard went on, 
looking towards the Queen, “ for there also, in bales and 
packages, were sparkling jewels—necklaces and bracelets 
of diamonds flashing in the light, and ropes of pearls, 
beautiful as the sheen on the sea ! ” 

“ And crowns, too ? ” asked the Queen, “ diamond 
crowns for ladies’ brows ? ” 

“ Aye, Queen,” said the Fox, “ even crowns of a richness 
and value to match your beauty.” 

“ But where is the cave ? ” asked the King. “ I am all on 
fire to go to it. Tell me at once.” 

“ In Flanders,” said the Fox, “ there is a deep, dark 
forest called Hulsterlo. Drear it is, and dense, and dark, 
and the fierce wind howls through it. And near this forest 
is a pool called Krekynpit. Mark well that word, for it 
is the key that will unlock the treasure cave. I alone in 
all the world know the secret, and I will tell it to you. 

“ When you get to the forest you must find the pool. 
And when you have found the pool you must walk along 
its sides until you come to a place where it splits in two, 
leaving a narrow neck of land in between. You will easily 
know the place, for on that split of land grow two poplar 
trees, so tall that they tower above all the other trees in the 
forest. Search among the roots of these trees and you will 
find two small white stones, graved with a skull and cross- 
bones. From these step six paces to the right, and there, 
if you stamp your feet, an empty hollow sound will 
answer you. Dig in that place about six feet down, and 
48 


you will come to a door, fast barred and locked. No key 
will open it, nor will any strength break it down. But here 
is what you must do. Step back from the door and say 
these magic words : 

“ King am I and master here, 

Right o’er all this wealth I claim, 

Each man who his life holds dear 
Knoweth well to fear my name. 

Yield before my might, O gates, 

Nobel bids ye to obey, 

Powerful is the prince who waits. 

I am he who brooks no nay, 

Think ye not to shun the Fates ; 

Bolts and bars, away ! away ! 

“ Three times you must speak these words, and the door 
will open to you.” 



49 






HOW THE WICKED FOX WON FREEDOM BY 
TREACHERY 

HE King stood for a moment in 
silence after Reynard had ended 
his tale of the wonderful treasure. 
Then, stroking his beard, he 
said : 

“ It all sounds very fine, but 
where is this wood named 
Hulsterlo, and the lake called 
Krekynpit ? London I have heard of, and Paris too ; but 
I never heard of Krekynpit in my life / 5 
Reynard turned on the King with an injured air. 

“ Does your Majesty, then, doubt my word ? ” he asked. 
“ If you will forgive my saying so, you must have but a 
very small knowledge of geography. Everybody knows the 
wood of Hulsterlo, even Cuwaert the Hare here. Stand 
forth, Cuwaert, and tell the King ! ” 

50 





The poor Hare, who had never heard of the place in his 
life, stepped forward tremblingly. He felt Reynard’s 
baleful glance upon him, and dared not tell the truth. 
“ I—I—I know it perfectly, your Majesty,” he stammered. 
“ Hulsterlo is the name of the wood and Krekynpit the name 
of the lake. They are dreary places, both of them—and 
nobody ever found any good there to my knowledge. They 
are in the county of—now, let me see—in the county of ” 

“ That will do, Cuwaert,” said Reynard hurriedly. 
“ Step back to your place, my friend, and don’t weary His 
Majesty with your talk.” 

“ It is all very well,” said the King, “ but I am not much 
wiser than I was before. I will tell you what, Reynard. 
You yourself shall lead us to the place where the treasure 
is hidden. And ”—here the King’s voice grew very 
stern—“ woe betide you if you cannot 
find it!” 

For a moment the wily Fox was dumb¬ 
founded, but he quickly recovered him¬ 
self. “ I will lead the way with pleasure, 
your Majesty,” he answered. “ But 
think a little before you order me to do a 
thing that may work harm to your fair 
fame. I am quite ready to set out for 
Krekynpit this instant, if you like, but 
have you forgotten that I am under the 
ban of the Church for that little matter of 
robbing the Priest’s farmyard ? If you go 
on a journey with me as your companion 
you will bring the wrath of the Church 
5i 






down on your own head also, and that, as you know, is a 
very serious thing.” 

“You are right,” said the King thoughtfully. “ But 


what, then, are we to do ? ” 

Reynard pretended to think very hard. “ I have it, 
your Majesty,” he said at last. “ There is no particular 
hurry for us to make this journey. The treasure is quite 
safe. Nobody will steal it, I can promise you. Let 
me set off at once to Rome to ask pardon of the Pope. 

Then, when I come back all will be well, 



52 




“ Why, as to that,” answered Reynard, “ you can send 
somebody with me. Here’s Cuwaert the Hare who can run 
faster than I can myself; one would not escape from 
him in a hurry. Let him be sent with me, and Bellyn the 
Ram as well. I ask for Bellyn because, as everybody knows, 
he is a very good-living beast, and before I ask the Pope for 
pardon I would like to improve my mind by listening to his 
talk.” 

“ It sounds a good idea,” said the King again. “ Very 
good, then, set off with you at once, and be as quick as you 
can, for I don’t mind telling you that I am all on fire to 
enter the cave and see the gold. You, Cuwaert, and you, 
Bellyn, look after Reynard, and see that he does not play 
any tricks. I hold you responsible for his safe-keeping.” 



53 



HOW CUWAERT THE HARE MET A DREADFUL 
FATE 

f OON afterwards the Fox and his two 
companions set off on their long journey. 
The Pope lived at Rome, and Rome was a 
very long way off—many weeks’ journey, 
even though they travelled at the top of 
their speed all the time. 

No sooner were they out of sight of the 
King’s Court than Reynard said : 

“ I am so glad you have been able to 
come with me, dear friends. I asked for you, Cuwaert, and 
you, Bellyn, because I well know that you are the only two 
among all the beasts who are to be trusted. Never had 
a Fox such faithful friends, and I am looking forward 

54 








immensely to our journey together. Before we go, how¬ 
ever, I would like to say farewell to my wife. Poor thing, 
she does not know yet that I am a changed beast. She has 
often wept over my sins, and she will be full of joy to hear 
that I have repented, and that I am to ask forgiveness of the 
Pope. My Castle of Malpertuis is not very far out of our 
road. I am sure you will not mind coming there with me. 
I promise you I will not stay long.” 

The Hare and the Ram both agreed, and before long the 
three stood at the gate of Reynard’s castle. 

“ Here we are,” said the Fox cheerfully. “ Now, Bellyn, 
you wait outside here. I have something important I want 
to say to Cuwaert, so he can go in with me. There is no 
other gate to the castle, so I cannot get out without your 
knowing.” 

The solemn and stupid old Ram at once sat down on the 
step to wait, while Cuwaert and the Fox entered the castle. 
Through the underground passages Reynard led the way 
until they came at last to the inner chamber where the 
Vixen lay with her cubs. 

They entered, and Reynard carefully closed and locked 
the door. 

“ Good-day, wife,” said he. “ Here I am, you see, come 
back again like a bad penny—all safe and sound, ha, ha ! 
And I’ve brought my dear friend Cuwaert to see you—the 
sweetest companion a Fox ever had.” 

His wicked eyes gleamed. 

“ Why, husband,” said the Vixen, “ I am glad indeed to 
see you back again. I made sure that the King would lock 
you up in prison or do something else equally unpleasant. 

55 


pardon for my sins from 
the Pope, so that I could 
lead him to it ! ” 

“ The treasure of Kre- 
kynpit ? ” said the Vixen, 
puzzled. “ What is that ? 
I have never heard of it.” 

“Nor I, either, until 
this morning,” answered 
Reynard. “ But I in¬ 
vented a beautiful story 



How did you 
manage to get 
away ? ” 

"Oh,” an¬ 
swered Reynard, 
“I told His 
Majesty about 
the treasure of 
Krekynpit, and 
he was so anxious 
to get his paws 
on the gold that 
he sent me off to 
Rome to ask 





Fox. “You would be a traitor to His Majesty, would 
you ? You would be false to our good King Nobel, who 
put his trust in you P What shall we do, wife, with such an 
arrant rogue ? ” 

He began to creep stealthily towards the poor Hare, 
licking his chops and glowering. 

“ Help, Bellyn, help ! ” screamed Cuwaert. “ The Fox 
is going to kill me. Come quickly or I am lost.” 

But he had hardly uttered the words before the cruel Fox 
was at his throat, and a minute later there was an end of 
Cuwaert for ever ! 

“ There’s meat for us for a long time,” said the Fox, 
rising. “ Fools that they are, all of them, to match their 
wits against mine ! Now, wife, we had better get away 
quickly from this place, for very soon we shall have the hue 
and cry out after us. I know a wood, not far from here, 
where there is plenty of shelter, and everything we may 
require. The coverts in it are full of fat pheasants and 
partridges ; there are shady dells where you and the young 
ones can take your ease, and there is plenty of fresh 
water.” 

“ I would much rather stay where I am,” answered his 
wife, “ and I think you would be wise to stay here also. 
What can the King do ? Even if he comes and lays siege 
to the castle, you know very well he could never catch us. 
There are a thousand different passages here underground, 
and many different holes to escape from. He might as 
well look for a needle in a haystack as search for us, even if 
he gained an entrance.” 

So they began to argue the matter, and all the time they 
58 


were talking old Bellyn the Ram sat, solemn and grave as a 
judge, waiting patiently for Reynard to come out. 

At last, even the Ram’s patience gave way, and he called 
out angrily: “ Come along, you two ! How much longer 
are you going to keep me waiting here ? Do you think that 
I have nothing better to do than to sit on a cold step all 
day ? ” 

There was no answer. 

“ Come, Reynard,” he cried again. “ It’s a very long 
farewell you are taking. I could have said good-bye in a 
quarter of the time ! ” 

At this, Reynard, who had heard his shouts, put his head 
out of the door and said : 

“ Don’t be angry, dear Bellyn. Good Cuwaert is within 
comforting my wife, who is in a dreadful way, I can tell you. 
Nothing will persuade her that I am not going to my death, 
and she is crying as if her heart would break. I could not 
stand it any longer by myself, and simply had to come away.” 

“ So that was the sound I heard,” said Bellyn. “ I 
fancied I heard a cry a while ago, but it sounded to me like 



59 




Cuwaert’s voice. For the moment I thought he was crying 
for help.” 

“ For help ! ” said Reynard reprovingly. “ Do you, then, 
think so ill of me as to fear that anything could happen to 
him in my house ? I know I have been wicked, but I hope 
I have not fallen so low as to betray a guest! ” 

“It is all right,” said Bellyn; “ it must have been my 
fancy.” 

“ I forgive you,” said the Fox, smiling sweetly. “Now 
I will tell you what to do, Bellyn. I have just thought of a 
message I must send to the King with a parcel. Will you 
take them back for me ? By the time you return Cuwaert 
will be ready, and we will all set out together.” 

Bellyn agreed, and the Fox, going back to his chamber, 
took the head of poor Cuwaert and put it into a bag, and 
having tied the bag tightly, sealed it, and delivered it to the 
Ram to take to the King. 



60 




HOW BELLYN RAM RETURNED TO COURT 

N the last story I told you how the 
cunning Fox set off with the Ram and 
Hare to make his journey to Rome. You 
will remember that, having by his artful 
words brought the two to his Castle of 
Malpertuis, he killed the poor Hare, and 
was now going to send his head in a bag 
to the King. 

The stupid Ram believed everything 
that Reynard said, and when the Fox told 
him that the bag contained an important 
letter, he was only too anxious to be off. 

“ Let me tie it round your neck,” said 
Reynard. “ This letter is far too valuable 
to be lost. I would not have the King miss it for all I 
possess in the world. You must take care of it, Bellyn ! ” 
“ Trust me ! ” said the Ram. “I’d like to see anybody 
try to take it from me, that’s all! ” 

61 





“ And whatever you do,” said Reynard, “ don’t open the 
bag and look at the letter that is inside. I have written 
down secret things, and only to know them is death to 
anybody but myself. If the King thought you had read 
the letter, or even as much as peeped at it, he would imme¬ 
diately order you to be hanged.” 

“ Will the King be pleased with me for bringing it, do 
you think ? ” asked Bellyn. 

“ Pleased ! ” said Reynard. “ Why, pleased isn’t the 
word. I should not be surprised if he gave you a rich 
reward. Only you must make haste and not delay on the 
road.” 



62 



“ Fm gone,” said Bellyn, and off he went there and 
then with a clumsy trot, the bag swinging from his neck. 

Shortly after noon the same day he arrived at Court, 
and you may imagine how surprised everybody was to see 
him back again. 

“ Why, Bellyn ! ” cried the King. “ What brings you 
here ? I thought you were miles away on your path to 
Rome. And where are Cuwaert and Reynard ?—and what is 
that bag that is hanging round your neck ? ” 

Then the Ram told the King everything that had hap¬ 
pened, and at the end of the tale handed up the scrip, 
so that the King might break the seal himself and take 



63 



out Reynard’s letter. This, however, the King refused to 
do. “I am not good at my letters,” said he. “ Here, 
Tybert, you are good at languages ! Untie me this bag 
and read this precious letter.” 

So Tybert the Cat took the bag, and untied it carefully, 
and drew out the head of poor Cuwaert. 

“ See,” said he, holding the head aloft. “ Reynard’s 
writing, truly ! Are you satisfied, O King ? ” 

And the King bowed his head in grief and sorrow. “ I 
have been vain and foolish,” said he, “ and I am well 
punished for trusting the word of one who a hundred 
times was proved a liar and thief.” Then, turning to the 
beasts that stood around his throne, he cried in a loud 
voice : “ Is there none of you all, you who call yourselves 
my subjects and friends, who will rid me of this cruel 
monster ? ” 

But no voice answered him. 

64 




HOW MORE COMPLAINTS OF REYNARD’S 
WICKEDNESS WERE BROUGHT TO THE KING 



UDDENLY there came the sound 
of flying feet, and the crowd of 
beasts opened and stood aside. 
The newcomer was little Lapreel 
the Rabbit, who, panting and 
breathless, rushed up and threw 
himself at the King’s feet. 

“ Help, your Majesty ! ” he gasped. “ Give me justice, 
I pray ! ” 

“ Who has wronged you ? ” asked the King, frowning. 
Indeed, he knew the answer before the Rabbit spoke. 

“ It is that villain Reynard, my lord,” panted Lapreel. 
“ Oh, I am near to death.” 

“ Tell your tale,” said the King, “ but waste no words.” 

“ It is short enough,” answered Lapreel. “ This morn¬ 
ing, as I was coming over the hill, I passed by the gate 
of Reynard’s castle. He was standing there, dressed in a 
65 





long robe, his head cast down 
as though he were praying. 
I was near him before I knew, 
and my first thought was to 
run away, but seeing him so 
quiet and still, and having 
heard how his heart was 
changed, I took courage and made to pass him by, and as 
I went I spoke to him in a gentle voice and said, ‘ Good- 
morrow, Reynard.’ 

“ Instead of answering me, he raised his right foot and 
gave me such a kick between the eyes that I was well-nigh 
stunned, and fell to the ground. I did not quite lose my 
senses, however, and in a moment I was up again and 
running for my life. But I only escaped by the skin of 
my teeth, for as I sprang forward I felt his cruel claws 
in my side. See, King, my wounds, how they bleed ! 
Of your might, give me justice against that cruel beast ! ” 

Poor Lapreel stopped and stood trembling, and hardly 
had finished his story than there came a whirl of wings, 
and Corbant the Rook, his feathers all draggled and awry, 
flew down to the foot of the King’s throne. 

“I, too, King ! ” he cried. “I, too, claim justice against 
Reynard the Fox. This morning I set out with Sharpbeak, 
my wife, to ramble over the heath. We had not gone far 
before we came across Reynard stretched out upon the 
ground as if he were dead. His tongue was lolling 



66 


from his mouth ; his limbs were stiff; 
no movement came from his body. 

We were sorry to see him in such a 
plight, and we walked round him several 
times to see if we could discover a sign 
of life, but he lay quite still. At last 
Sharpbeak put her ear close to his 
mouth to listen for his breath, and as 
she did so—snap! the cruel jaws snapped, ;jMj ^ 
and my poor wife was a headless corpse ! : 

“ How can I tell your Majesty my 
feelings when I saw this dreadful scene ! 

Would that I had died in her place. 

As it was, I was so stunned by the 
terrible sight that I had barely strength 
to fly to a neighbouring tree, where I 
remained while the Fox made his terrible 
meal. All of her he ate, my liege—all 
of her, beak, bone, flesh and feathers, 
and all the time he gazed upon me with 
a disgusting grin. At last he slunk off 
to his lair, and I made all haste to fly 
to your Majesty to appeal for justice.” 

In silence King Lion listened to the Rook’s tale, nor 
did he speak when the story was ended, but remained with 
downcast, gloomy gaze. Then the Rook spoke again : 

“ Why are you silent, King ? If ever you would enjoy 
peace in this your realm you must destroy this evil beast. 



6 7 




The blood of many innocent creatures cries out for ven¬ 
geance. Will you listen to that cry ? ” 

Then the King raised his head and spoke in a loud 
voice. 

“ I swear,” said he, “ by all I hold most dear—by my 
own crown, by my kingdom, yea, even by my life—that 
I will exact from this villain Fox the utmost penalty for 
his crimes. Such a vengeance will I take that the fame of 
it shall echo round the world, and evildoers in lands far 
away shall tremble. I have been over-merciful and perhaps 
a little foolish, but never again shall Reynard’s lies pass 
for truth with me. Now do I lay my commands upon you 
all, high and low ; steel your hearts to grim resolve. Set 
yourselves one task and one alone—to bring to judgment 
this creature who disturbs our peace ; and never look 
back until that task is accomplished ! ” 



68 



Nobody heard this speech with greater pleasure than 
Isegrim the Wolf and Bruin the Bear, who, as we know, had 
good cause to hate Reynard. But Grimbert the Badger 
raised his voice : 

“ Surely, King,” said he, “ you would not order us to 
kill Reynard at sight. Villain he may be, but no matter 
how great his crimes he ought at least to have a fair trial 
before he is condemned to death. It would ill become 
your nobility to sentence him without giving him a chance 
to say a word in his own defence ! ” 

“ A fig for trials ! ” growled Isegrim. “ Trials are all 
very well in their way, but we know what a trial means 
where Master Reynard is concerned. If he came here 
to-day, I well believe he could prove himself innocent of 
crime as a baby a day old ; but he would be a villain none 
the less. A speedy end to him, I say, a speedy end and no 
talking ; just a tree and a good strong rope ! ” 

“ And if you killed him,” said Grimbert, “ what would 
become of the treasure of Krekynpit, of which he alone 
knows the secret ? ” 




“ The treasure of Krekynpit! ” growled the Wolf. 
“ Treasure, indeed ! a fine treasure that! It never existed 
outside his own evil mind. Fools were all of us who 
believed that lying tale ! ” 

“ At least let us send a messenger to Reynard to bid 
him attend the Court and answer for his crimes,” pleaded 
Grimbert. 

“ No ! ” thundered the King. “ I will send no more 
envoys. My mind is made up. We will not give the Fox 
the chance to deceive us again, but go to his castle and 
dig him out of it like a rat out of a hole ; and then, as 
Isegrim says, a speedy end, with a high tree, and a stout 
cord about his villain neck.” 

At this a great cry arose from all the beasts that stood 
around the throne : 

“ Death to the traitor ! Lead on, O King, and we will 
follow.” 



70 




HOW GRIMBERT THE BADGER WARNED 
REYNARD 

HEN Grimbert the Badger 
heard the King swear to 
be avenged on Reynard, he 
made up his mind to give 
his uncle warning. Un¬ 
noticed by anybody he slunk 
to the edge of the crowd, 
and then, while all the beasts were still cheering the King’s 
words, he set off running as fast as he could to the Fox’s 
castle. Straight as the crow flies he went, over hill and dale, 
jumping streams and crashing through woods, until he 
came at last to Malpertuis. 

The Fox was standing at the gate. He looked very hale 
and well, and he had grown a good deal fatter. He was 
playing with a couple of young pigeons which he had just 
killed, and he looked up from them to grin at his nephew, 
who arrived panting and out of breath. 

7i 















“ Why, good-morrow, Grimbert,” said Reynard. “ I 
am glad to see you. How are things going at Court ? 
You seem to have come in a great hurry ; has anything of 
moment happened while I have been away ? Upon my 
word, I live here the life of a hermit, and get no news at 
all.” 

“ If it’s news you want,” said Grimbert, “ I have plenty 


and to spare. But it's 



not good news, I’m sorry to say. 
Oh, uncle ! fly for your life ! Do 
not waste a minute, for King 
Nobel has sworn that he will have 
your blood, and even now he may 
be marching against you ! ” 

“ Come, come ! ” said the Fox, 
smiling, “ surely there’s no great 
hurry ! ” 

“It is all very well to laugh,” 
said Grimbert, “ but I assure you 
things are very serious indeed this 


72 



time. The King is going to bring an army to besiege your 
castle, and he will dig you out like a rat from its hole— 
those were his very words ! ” 

“ And why has the King taken this sudden resolve ? ” 
asked Reynard. 

“You should know that,” answered Grimbert. “ What 
about Cuwaert’s head that you sent to the King in a bag ? 
And what about the treasure ? ” (Here the Fox grinned.) 
“ And even that is not all, for this morning who should 
come to Court but little Lapreel the Rabbit, whining 
because you nearly made a meal of him. His tale made 
the King show his teeth, I can 


tell you ! And hardly had he 
finished when Corbant the 
Rook flew down, looking for 
all the world as though he’d 
combed his feathers the 
wrong way, and cried out that 
you had eaten his wife ! ” 



73 





“So I had,” grinned Reynard. “ And very nice she 
tasted.” 

“ There you go, laughing again ! ” said Grimbert. 
“ But it’s no laughing matter. The King is deadly angry. 
Ah, Reynard, I’m very much afraid your last hour is 
near ! ” 

“ Pouf! ” said the Fox. “ A fig for your last hour ! 
What, Grimbert, do you know me so little as to imagine 
that I cannot find a way to outwit the King this time as I 
did before ? The Court have sworn my death, have they ? 
We’ll see ! 

“ But come, Grimbert, don’t pull such a long face ! 
You must be very tired after your journey. Step inside 
with me, and my wife shall cook us these two plump 
pigeons that I caught this morning. Then, after dinner, 
we’ll have a friendly talk, and I will tell you my plans.” 











HOW REYNARD FEASTED GRIM- 
BERT AND TOLD HIM THE TALE 
OF THE MARE WHO WOULD NOT 
SELL HER COLT 

{O Grimbert followed the Fox into his under¬ 
ground lair, and paid his respects to 
Reynard’s wife, who was there as usual 
with her cubs. She made him wel¬ 
come, and set about preparing the meal 
at once. Presently the pigeons were 
cooked to a turn, and the good wife set 
them on the table. 

“ I’m sorry I’ve nothing better to offer you,” said Reynard. 
“If I had known you were coming I would have pre¬ 
pared for you. Two pigeons won’t go very far, I’m 
afraid, between a Badger and a Fox and his wife, 
75 













to say nothing of four cubs, who shall have the bones if 
they’re good. What do you think of my children, Grim- 
bert ? Aren’t they fine youngsters ? There’s young 
Reynkin, now ; I have great hopes of him. One day he’ll 
grow up to be as cunning a thief as his father ! And as for 
Rosel, you just ought to see him at the game of snaring 
fowls—it’s a sight for sore eyes, I promise you ! ” 

“ They are very fine children indeed,” answered 
Grimbert, with his mouth full. “ I am proud to call them 
my cousins ! Will you pass a bit more of that juicy wing, 
Reynard, dear ? ” 

After the dinner was over the Fox brought out a bottle 
of wine, and the two sat drinking together for some time. 
Master Reynard grew very merry and sang a song. It was 
a very long song, and I cannot remember all the verses of 
it, but this is how the first verse went:— 

“ Ever since I was born, 

I have felt bitter scorn 

For working, respectable people ; 

So with merry heart sing, 

Here’s a fig for the King ; 

Nought care I for law, crown or steeple.” 

“ Now,” said Reynard, when the song was finished, 
“ it is time for us to talk business. I have quite made up 
my mind what to do. To-morrow morning we will set 
out for the Court together, you and I, and we will see 
what the King has in store for us ! ” 

“ Go to Court ? ” stammered Grimbert. “ Are you 
mad ? ” 

“ Not a bit! ” said Reynard. “You leave everything to 
76 


me, and do not worry. Let us go to bed now so as to get 
a good night’s rest, and we will be afoot before dawn.” 

Very much troubled, poor Grimbert retired to rest. 
He tried to think how the Fox meant to escape his just 
punishment, but thinking was not his strong point, and 
it only made his head ache and kept him awake for hours. 
As for the Fox, he was snoring almost as soon as his head 
touched the pillow. 

The next morning before dawn the Fox arose and 
made a journey all through the castle. Truth to tell, in 
spite of the bold air he had put on when talking to Grim¬ 
bert, he was more than a little troubled, and he wondered, 
as he passed through the rooms of his house, whether he 
would ever see any of them again. 

His tour ended, he awoke Grimbert, and then went to 
say farewell to his wife. “ Good-bye, wife,” said he. 
“ Look after the little ones, and don’t worry about me. I 
hope to be back again very shortly ; but even if I stay 
away a long time you must not feel alarmed—not even 
if you hear bad news. Just trust me to find a way out of 
this coil, as I have found a way out of others.” 

Then, in the grey dawn, the two set out across the heath 
towards the King’s Court. And as they went Reynard 
asked : “ Tell me, Grimbert, did Isegrim the Wolf speak 
ill of me to the King ? ” 

“ Aye, that he did,” answered 
Grimbert. “ His voice was raised 
above all the others. A long cord and 
a short shrift would be your fate if 
he were allowed to have his way! ” 

77 



“ I know he hates me,” said Reynard. “ Did I ever tell 
you the story of the red mare and her colt ? ” 

“ No,” said Grimbert, “ not that I remember.” 

“ Well then, listen,” said Reynard, “and you will under¬ 
stand why Isegrim is so bitter against me.” 

“ One day, a long time ago, when Isegrim and I were 
good friends, we went out hunting together. On the way 
to the woods we crossed a field where a fine red mare was 
browsing along with her colt, a fine plump youngster. 

“ ‘ Here, Reynard,’ said Isegrim to me, ‘ go and ask the 
mare if she’ll sell that colt; if so, I’ll buy him.’ 

“ Well, I did not much like the task, but I was anxious 
to oblige Isegrim ; so up I went to the mare and said, 

* Excuse me, madam, but may I inquire whether you are 
willing to sell your colt ? ’ 

“ ‘ Why, certainly,’ answered she; ‘ it is quite the fashion 
among mares to sell their children.’ 

“ ‘ And how much,’ said I, ‘if I may be so bold as to 
inquire, are you asking for him ? ’ 

“ ‘ Why, as to that,’ said the mare, ‘if you will come 
behind me and lift my right hoof you will find the price 
written there in plain figures. It is our custom, you know.’ 

“ Now as she said this, she looked at me with such a 
wicked eye that I easily saw she was laying a trap for me. 
So I edged away quickly and went back to the Wolf. 

“ ‘ Well ? ’ said Isegrim. 

“ ‘ She’ll sell,’ said I. 

“ ‘ Good ! ’ said he. ‘ Now I shall make a good meal.* 

“ ‘ And how about me ? ’ I asked. ‘ I hope you will 
give me a share ! ’ 


78 


“ ‘ Give you a share, 
indeed! ’ laughed Isegrim. 
* That’s a good joke if ever 
I heard one ! Yes, my 
friend, you shall have the 
hair and the hide.’ Then 
I understood what sort of 
a friend I had in Isegrim, 
but I did not let him see 
I was annoyed. 



“ ‘ Well,’ said I, ‘ the 
mare will sell, but I 
cannot tell what her 
price is, because it is 
written on her right 
hoof, and, alas ! I never 


79 




learned to read. I don’t suppose you can read either, 
can you ? ’ 

“ ‘ Can I not!’ cried Isegrim. ‘ Why, I’m one of the 
most learned scholars in the realm. I’ll soon find out 
what the price is ; you watch me ! ’ 

“So up he marched to the mare, and went to lift her 
right hinder foot. But as soon as he came near the mare 
kicked out at him with all her might, and sent him flying 
across the road. Then she and her colt scampered away. 

“ I rushed up to where Isegrim lay, all battered and 
bleeding. 

“ ‘ Well, Isegrim,’ I asked, ‘ did you see the figures ? 
How much did she want for the colt ? ’ But he did not 
answer. 

“ Then I asked him again. ‘ Come, clever one, what was 
written on the hoof ? Was it in verse or prose ? ’ But still 
he did not answer. And so I told him that learned fools 
were often the biggest fools of all, and came away. And 
ever since then Isegrim has been my deadliest enemy.” 



80 



HOW REYNARD CAME TO COURT A SECOND 
TIME 

O Grimbert the Badger and Reynard 
the Fox talked together until at 
last they came to the Court of 
the King. 

And all the beasts were gathered 
together round the King’s throne, and 
there was silence as the Fox passed by. 

But Reynard held his head high, 
and did not seem a bit ashamed, and 
when he stood in front of the King 
he fell down upon his knees and 
said : 

“ Sire, and my lord, I pray you, for our old friendship’s 
sake, give ear to what I have to say in my defence.” 

And the King frowned at him and answered nothing. 
So Reynard went on : 



81 






“ Dear lord, I am told that my 
enemies have dared to slander me 
when I was not here to give them 
the lie. They have accused me of 
I know not what crimes. If I am 
guilty, let me be punished ; but if 
you will listen to me, I will prove 
that I am not the villain you think. 
I am no flatterer when I say that 
you are just, and I can so explain 
my actions that you will be bound 
to confess that I am in the right.” 

“ Reynard,” said the King, “ a 
pot may go so often to the water 
that it is broken at last. You have 
deceived me many times, but I 
have sworn that you shall do so no 
more.” At these words Reynard inwardly quaked with 
fear, but he gave no sign of it. 

“ Sire,” he cried, “ if I had known myself guilty, do 
you think I should have come here to-day to place myself 
in your power and in that of my foes ? I was free to go 
where I liked, and had I chosen to escape I could have 
done so ; yet directly I heard of the lying tales that had 
been told about me, I hurried to Court, and I would have 
been here sooner had I not gone some distance on my way 
to Rome.” 

“ And Lap reel the Rabbit, whom you treated so vilely,” 
said the King, “ what have you to say about him ? ” 

“ Why,” answered Reynard, “ here is the truth of that 
82 



matter. Yesterday morning, as I stood at my door saying 
my morning prayers, the Rabbit came by. ‘ Good-morrow, 
dear Lapreel/ I said. ‘ Where are you going in such a 
hurry ? * 

“ ‘ Reynard/ he answered, ‘ have you by any chance a 
scrap of meat in the house ? I am on my way to Court, 
but I am so weak with hunger that I shall never reach 
there if I do not get some food quickly/ 

“ * Why/ said I, ‘ come in, my dear friend. I have no 
meat at all, because, you know, I always fast on a Wed¬ 
nesday, but I have plenty of bread, and that you shall 
have, with some of the finest butter you ever tasted/ 

“ So Lapreel followed me into my home, and I set a 
good meal before him, and he ate until he could eat no 
more. Then Rosel, my little son, who had not yet had his 
breakfast, came to the table and took a piece of the bread 
that was left; and suddenly Lapreel hit him with all his 
force in the mouth, making him bleed badly. Seeing this, 
his brother Reynkin sprung upon the Rabbit and would 
have killed him had I not torn him away. As a matter 
of fact, that wicked fellow Lapreel has to thank me for 
saving his life, and yet he complains to the King that I 
tried to murder him ! ” 

“ Hum ! ” said King Nobel. “ And Corbant the Rook 
—what of him ? ” 

“ It was the same day, my lord,” answered Reynard 
“ Corbant the Rook came to me with his feathers all 
draggled, and he was crying bitterly. 

“ ‘ Why, what ails you ? ’ I asked. 

“ 4 Alas ! * said he, ‘ my poor wife is dead. She found 

83 


a dead hare on the heath yonder and ate some of the 
flesh, and the hare had been dead a long time, and the 
flesh poisoned her/ 

“ Then I tried to comfort the poor fellow, but he would 
not listen to my words, and flew off to a high tree, and the 
next thing I hear is that he accuses me of killing his wife ! 
How could I kill her when she has wings and I go afoot ? 
How could I come near her ? Now, O King, I have told 
you all the truth, and if any doubt my words I am willing 
to stand against them in fair fight! ” 

All the Court was silent when they heard Reynard speak 
thus stoutly, but the King cried : 

“You have heard what Reynard says. Come forth, you 
who accuse him, and speak before his face. Yesterday there 
were many who came to complain of him. Who will speak 
now that he is here ? ” 

But no one answered, for all the beasts were afraid of 
Reynard’s fierceness and cunning, and as for Lapreel the 
Rabbit and Corbant the Rook, they had long ago fled in 
fear. 

“ Well, Reynard,” said the King, “ you may be right in 



what you say. It seems so, indeed, since none of your 
accusers come forward ; but there is still one matter—the 
gravest of all—that you have not explained. When you 
were here before and were condemned to die I listened to 
your pleadings and granted you mercy. I sent you to 
Rome that you might beg forgiveness of the Pope, and at 
your own request I sent Bellyn the Ram and Cuwaert the 
Hare with you. Bellyn the Ram came back—but what 
of Cuwaert the Hare ? Him we saw no more, only the 
head of him, which, with an insolence greater than all 
your crimes, you sent back in the very scrip I gave you to 
take to Rome ! What have you to say to this ? ” 

Then Reynard was very much afraid, and even his 
ready wit failed him for a time. He stood there confused 
and trembling, and the King’s stern voice was raised 
again. 

“You false villain ! ” cried he, and his eyes flashed 
with anger. “ Why do you not speak ? Are you struck 
dumb by the memory of your crimes ? ” 

But Reynard still stood confused and trembling, and not 
a word could he say. 



85 



The 


Serpent 


was 

HUNGRY 


86 




HOW DAME RUKENAW CAME TO 
REYNARD’S AID 

OW, among the beasts that stood 
around the King’s throne was Dame 
Rukenaw, the wife of Martin the 
Ape. She was Reynard’s aunt, and 
she stood high in favour with the 
Queen. When she saw the turn 
things were taking she was sorry 
for Reynard and stood forward to 
say a word in his defence. She 
reminded the King of the Fox’s cunning and wisdom, and 
bade him remember how often he had done good service 
in days gone by. 

“ Do not judge hastily, my lord,” said she. “ Remember 
there are always two sides to a tale, and you have heard 
but one. The very fact that the Fox cannot answer you 
87 





is to me proof of his inno¬ 
cence, for everybody knows 
his ready wit. Had he ex¬ 
pected to face this dreadful 
charge, who can doubt but 
that he would have pre¬ 
pared a tale that would 
have explained everything 
away ? 

“ Moreover, my lord, the 
Fox is just. Do you re¬ 
member how he dealt with 
that case of the man and the Serpent two years ago ? 

“ The Serpent had been caught in a snare as he was 
gliding through a hedge. 

“ The noose was round his neck, and in spite of all his 
writhings he could not free himself. 

“ Presently a man came by, and the Serpent called out 
to him for help. The man was sorry for the Serpent and 
was minded to release him, but being a prudent fellow, 
he said, ‘ If I set you free, will you promise to do me no 
harm ? ’ So the Serpent promised, and the man set him 
free, and the two went on together. 

“ Now, the Serpent was hungry, and before they had 
gone very far he sprang upon the man, and would have 
killed him. But the man leapt aside, and said, ‘ What, 



88 



have you forgotten the oath you swore, that you would 
do me no harm ? ’ 

4 4 And the Serpent made answer, 4 Hunger may cause 
a man to break an oath/ So the man said, 4 Give me at 
least a chance, and let us go on until we meet with some one 
who can judge between us/ 

44 The Serpent granted this, and they went on until they 
met the Raven, who thought it right that the Serpent should 
eat the man. The Raven said this because he hoped to 
have a share also. 

44 But the man said, 4 How shall a robber judge justly ? 5 
And so they went on again until they met the Wolf and the 
Bear, to whom also they told their case, and both judged 
that the Serpent was right to eat the man. 

44 So once again the Serpent sprang upon him, but once 
again the man leapt away. 

4 4 4 My case is not fairly judged/ said he. 4 Those who 
have spoken so far are themselves robbers and murderers. 
I appeal to the King ! ’ 

44 So it was agreed, and they came to this 
Court, and your Majesty will remember 
that you were sorely puzzled, and could not 
give judgment, for you thought that, as the 
Serpent said, hunger may cause a man to 
break an oath. 

44 Then came Reynard the Fox, and the 





90 










case was told to him, 
because of his wis¬ 
dom. And Reynard said : 

This is a hard case, and I 
cannot judge unless I see exactly how the man 
found the Serpent in the first place. Let me 
see the Serpent in the hedge with the snare 
round his neck.’ 

“ So they took the Serpent and put the noose 
round his neck as it was before. 

“ Then Reynard called the man, and said : ‘ Was it just 
like this that you found him ? ’ And the man said it 
was so. 

“ ‘ Then/ said Reynard, * begin the matter all over 
again. Let the man, knowing what he knows, set the 
Serpent free if he will, and if he does not care to let the 
Serpent free, then must the Serpent’s neck remain in the 
noose ! ’ 

“ That was the Fox’s judgment, O King, and right well 
did you applaud it. Was that the judgment of a wicked 
man ? I, myself, will stand for Reynard’s honour, and I 
am not the only one. Stand forth, all of you who are of my 
kin and of Reynard’s, and pray the King to have mercy 
upon him.” 

Then a crowd of beasts stepped forward, headed by 
Grimbert the Badger, Reynard’s nephew. And the King 
said, “ It is well. I will give Reynard another chance, and 
listen to what he has to say. Let him explain, if he can, 
how Cuwaert the Hare came by his death.” 


9 * 




REYNARD’S 

AUNT. 








HOW REYNARD TOLD A WONDROUS TALE 
OF THREE JEWELS 

OW all the time that Dame Ruke- 
naw had been speaking Reynard had 
stood silent with bent head, like one 
confused. But when he heard the 
King’s voice bidding him explain 
Cuwaert’s death, he raised his head 
and said : 

“ What is this you say of my 
poor friend Cuwaert ? Twice have 
you told me that he is dead. Is it 
true, and shall I never see him again ? ” 

The King looked at him sternly, but Reynard boldly 
met his gaze. 



“ Full well you know it, Reynard,” said King Nobel. 
“ Did you not send Bellyn the Ram to me with Cuwaert’s 
head in a bag ? ” 


93 






“ I cannot understand,” said Reynard, in a puzzled way. 
“ Where, then, is Bellyn ? I pledged my honour he should 
come safe to you.” 

“ He came surely enough,” quoth the King grimly, 
“ but you will never see him again, for I condemned him 
to death as a traitor and a fool.” 

“ But the jewels!” said Reynard wonderingly. “ Did he 
bring the jewels safely to your Majesty ? ” 

The King pricked up his ears. “ Eh, what’s that ? ” 
asked he. “ The jewels ! What jewels do you mean ? ” 

“ I gave him three jewels to carry to my liege lord,” 
said Reynard, “ three jewels worth a king’s ransom. And 
for the better safety of them, because I knew Bellyn the 
Ram to be thick-witted at his best, I sealed them in the 
scrip your Majesty gave me to bear with me to Rome.” 

By this time both the King and Queen and most of the 
Court also were all agog with excitement. 

“ I pray your Majesty do not tell me my precious jewels 
are lost,” cried Reynard pleadingly. “ Oh, they were 
gems beyond compare. No others were there in the world 
like them for beauty or worth. Alas that I was born ! 
Woe is me ! ” 

“ Come, come, Reynard ! ” said Dame Rukenaw. “Do 
not give way. You will not find your jewels again by 
crying about them. Describe them to us, and perhaps we 
shall find a way to win them back.” 

“ They were for my gracious lord, the King,” said 
Reynard, in a broken voice, “ for the King and his sweet 
spouse, my lady Queen. They were a part of the treasure 
of Krekynpit, and I had kept them a long time hidden 

94 


in a secret place in my castle. It was to get them that I 
broke my journey to Rome.” 

“ What were they like ? ” cried the Queen. “ Tell me 
quickly, dear Reynard, I pray you. Were they of great 
worth ? ” 

“Not all the treasure of this realm could purchase 
them,” answered Reynard, “ for each jewel had magic 
powers of its own. Listen while I tell you what they were. 
The first was a ring made of fine gold. Inside it were 
engraved three words in a strange tongue, which I could 
not read. I showed them, however, to a wise man once, 
and he told me that whoever wore that ring should never 
come to harm by thunder or lightning, neither could heat 
burn, nor cold freeze him. On the top of the ring 
was set a gem coloured in three tints—red, white and 
green. And the red part of the stone was a charm against 
darkness, so that the owner of the ring had but to touch it 
and his way was illumined on the blackest night. The 
white part of the stone was even more powerful, for if a man 
had any disease of his body he had but to touch the un¬ 
healthy part with this ring and he was made whole again. 
As for the green part of the stone, that was a potent charm 
in war-time, for the owner of the ring who bore it on his 
finger need never fear the thrust of the enemy’s weapon. 
No spear could pierce, no arrow wound him ; he was 
invincible in war.” 

“ Ah, me,” replied the King, “ that such a ring should 
be lost to me ! Go on, dear Reynard. The second jewel 
—what was that ? ” 

“ A wonder, sire, that would have made the Queen’s 


95 














G 


















) 


9 8 






heart glad. It was a comb of gold, fit, as no other comb in 
all the world may be, to touch Her Majesty’s beautiful 
hair ! A comb of gold, O Queen, most marvellously 
fashioned, with big teeth and small teeth, and on the back 



99 








of it histories wonderfully carved—tales of the heroes of 
old—of Troy Town, and fair Helen, and Paris the false 
and fair. Never was such a gem of workmanship, and my 
heart is sick to think that it is lost! ” 

“ Mine, too,” said the Queen. “ Oh, Reynard, why did 
you entrust such a treasure to such a messenger ? ” 

“ How could I know ? ” answered Reynard. “ And even 
yet I have not told you all. For whoever used that comb, 
her tresses should never lose their youthful colour or turn 
grey with age.” 

“ And the third treasure,” broke in the King, “ what 
about that ? ” 

“ That also was for the Queen, your Majesty,” said 
Reynard. “ It was a mirror of polished crystal glass. 
Whoever looked into that mirror could see what was done 
by man or beast a mile away, and if he had any disease of 
the eye he was immediately cured of it. The frame was of 
ebony, wrought with gold and inset with jewels, and on it, 
too, were carved many wonderful histories. 

“ There was first the history of the horse and hart. 

“ The horse was in full chase after a hart, and the hart 
outran him, and the horse was angry. So, meeting a herds¬ 
man, the horse said to him, ‘ Leave your sheep and help 
me to catch this hart. When we have caught him I will 
give him to you, and you can sell his hide and horns ! ’ 

“ ‘ I should like it very well,’ said the herdsman, ‘ but 
how are we to catch him ? * 

“ * Jump upon my back,’ said the horse, * and I will 
show you.’ 

“ So the herdsman took a rope for a bridle, and jumped 


ioo 


upon the horse’s back, and they rode after the hart, but they 
could not catch him. 

“ So at last the horse said, ‘ It is no use, he is too fleet 
for us. Let me rest now, for, indeed, I am winded.’ 

“ But the man said, ‘ I have a bridle in your mouth, 
and I am your master. I will subdue you, and henceforth 
you shall carry me where I will, for it is better to ride than 
to walk.’ 

“ So the horse was taken captive into slavery, and he has 
been a slave to man ever since. 

“ And there was graven on the mirror yet another tale 
of the ass and the hound, which both lived with a certain 
rich man. Now the man loved his hound, and would 
often play with him, but he never played with the ass, 
and when the ass saw this he said to himself: 

“ ‘ I wonder what my master sees in this fool of a hound 
to make such a fuss about ? I do more work in a day than he 
does in a year, yet he sits by him at table and feeds on the 



ioi 



choicest foods, while I have nothing to eat but thistles and 
nettles, and no bed but the hard ground. I have seen him 
leap upon my master and lick his face. Perhaps that is 
why he is loved so dearly. I will do the same, and try 
to earn my master’s love.’ 

“So the next time the man came in the ass leapt upon 
him, and grinned and brayed, and planted one of his hoofs 
in his master’s ear, and the other one in his master’s eye. 
And he tried to lick his face with his long tongue. And 
the man cried out in fear : 

“ ‘ Help ! Help ! This villain ass will slay me. Come 
quickly ! ’ 

“So the servants came with thick cudgels and belaboured 
the poor ass soundly, and he went back sadly to his stable 
and ate again of his nettles and thistles. 

“ And there is yet another story of my father and Tybert 
the Cat, which is written on the mirror. 

“ My father and Tybert were once great friends, and 
they hunted together, and swore never to part one from 
the other. And one day the huntsmen and the hounds 
came after them, and they had to fly for their lives. 

“ 4 Do not fear, Tybert,’ said my father, as they sped 
along. ‘ I have a sackful of tricks to play on these hunts¬ 
men. Trust to me.’ 

“ And Tybert was very much afraid, and he replied, 


102 


‘ Alas ! I have but one trick, and I must trust to 
that.' 

“ So when the huntsmen came on, my father tried each 
of his tricks in turn, but nothing came of them. But the 
Cat played his one trick with success, for he climbed a tree 
and hid among the leaves, and laughed at the huntsmen 
as they scurried by. My poor father doubled and turned, 
but it was no use, and the Cat cried out and mocked him, 
and said, ‘ Come, Reynard, untie your bag of tricks and let 
me see them.* He only just managed to escape with 
his life by running into a hole, and ever since then I and 
my kin have hated Tybert the Cat. 

“ These and many more histories every whit as interesting 
were graven on that mirror, O Queen. I intended it for 
you, and well would it have beguiled many an idle hour. 
Ah, woe is me that it is lost ! ” 

“ But did you give these treasures to Bellyn ? ” asked the 
King excitedly. 

“ Yes, lord, to Bellyn, sealed in a bag, as I have said. 
And with Bellyn I sent Cuwaert the Hare to run before 
and bring the news to your Majesty of the coming of my 
gifts. Little did I think when I bade farewell to Cuwaert 
that the faithful creature was so near his death. I loved him 
best of all, and not for all the treasures of Krekynpit would 
I have had him die ! Bellyn, too, was my friend, and both 


103 


of them have come to their end through me. I cry for 
justice, O King, upon the murderer. Perhaps he is here 
among us even now. If so, let him tremble, for though he 
place the world between us I will find him out and run 
him down. He was wily to kill the Hare and fool poor 
Bellyn into taking his friend’s head instead of the jewels to 
Court, but his wile will be no match for mine. I will have 
vengeance, I swear it! ” 

Then all the Court was silent, pondering this new tale 
that Reynard had told. But the King and Queen could 
think of naught but the jewels—the King of the ring that 
would give him power, and the Queen of the comb and the 
mirror that would bring her beauty and pleasure. 



104 




HOW REYNARD REMINDED THE KING OF 
HIS VIRTUES 



\HEN Reynard saw that his 
tale of the three wonderful 
jewels had awakened in¬ 
terest in the minds of the 
King and the Queen he was 
very glad, but he was far too 
cunning to show his plea¬ 
sure. He kept still a stern, grave face, and after a 
little silence began to speak again. “ Do you still 
doubt my faith, O King ? ” he said. “ Who among all 
your friends is there who would bring you such precious 
gifts ? My wife wept when she saw me put the jewels 
in the bag to send to your Majesty, for, woman-like, she 
treasured them exceedingly and especially the mirror. 
105 



Well do I know who has poisoned 
your heart against me—it is that 
treacherous thief, Isegrim the Wolf, 
who has-always hated me and would 
work my ruin if he could ! ” 

Isegrim glared at Reynard and 
showed his teeth in a wicked snarl ; 
and if looks could kill, Reynard 
would have died that day. As it 
was, however, he took no notice of 

t the Wolf’s scowls, and went on 

|'^ r speaking. 

I “ There was a time, your Majesty, 

and not so very long ago, when you knew well how to 
judge between the Wolf and me. Do you remember that 
day when the Wolf and I were in the forest together ? 
We had caught a pig, and were about to make our dinner 
from it when your Majesty and my lady Queen came out 
of a grove and prayed us to give you a part. You had been 
out hunting, and had caught nothing, and you were very 
hungry. 


106 


“ How did I answer you ? ‘ Yea, lord,’ I said, ‘ with a 
good will.’ But the Wolf (do you remember), like the ill- 
mannered cur that he is, growled out sulkily, and took a 
half of the pig for himself and left only a quarter each for 
you and the Queen. And he gave me only the skinny 
part of the pig’s tail for my dinner. And I was very hungry, 
lord. Bad luck to him for a greedy knave ! 

“ And what was half a pig between you and the Queen ? 
You remember how you ate it up quickly and asked for 
more, and when he neither gave nor offered you any you 
lifted up your right foot and kicked him until he howled 
for mercy. Then you said to him, 

‘ Make haste and bring us some 
more food, and we will see that the 
next meal is shared better/ 

“ I went with him, and it was 
not long before we killed a fat calf, 
and brought it back to you. Then 
you praised me, and said I was 
swift in hunting, and bade me deal 
out the meat. So I dealt it out, and 



I said, ‘ One half the meat shall be for the King and the 
other half for the Queen. Isegrim shall have the head and 
I will have the feet.’ 

“ Then you said to me, ‘ Well done, Reynard ! Who 
taught you to share so well P ’ 

“ And I answered, ‘ Isegrim taught me, my lord ; because 
he got a broken pate for being greedy.’ 

“ At this you were well pleased and took me into favour, 
but you sent Isegrim about his business and would have 
nothing more to do with him, and you were wise in that. 
This was not the only time that I proved my worth to you 
in days gone by. I could recall many more things to your 



Reynard 


broke down 


and sobbed, 
while 


large tears 


rolled down 


his cheeks. 


108 



mind if it would not take too long. Now, alas ! you have 
forsaken me, who was always your friend, and believe the 
lies my enemies tell of me.” 

Here Reynard broke down and sobbed, while large tears 
rolled down his cheeks. 

“ Come, Reynard,” said the King kindly. “ Do not 
give way. I am far from believing everything I hear, 
you know. As a matter of fact, now I come to think 
of it, all that I know of Cuwaert’s death is the fact 
that Bellyn brought his head here in a bag. There is 
no proof that you had anything to do with the killing 
of him.” 





no 





HOW REYNARD ANSWERED HIS ACCUSERS 



T this the Wolf, who had been 
boiling with rage all the time 
that Reynard had been speak¬ 
ing, could keep silence no 
longer. 

“ Do not be deceived, O 
King,” he burst out. 
“ Every word this false 
Fox utters is a lie. 
Listen, while I tell you 


what he did to my poor wife. 

“ One cold winter’s day, when food was hard to get, 
he met my wife in the forest, and asked her if she liked fish. 
She said she did. So Reynard told her that he would 
show her how she might catch plenty of them. ‘ All you 
have to do,’ said he, ‘is to go out into the middle of the 


hi 



river and make a hole in the ice. Then sit down over the 
hole and let your tail dangle in the water, and before 
long so many fish will bite at it that there will be enough 
and to spare for four people ! ’ 

“Well, my lord, my poor trusting wife did as the villain 
told her. She made a hole in the ice, and let her tail down 
in the water, and sat there for many hours, but never a 
fish did she catch ; and when she got tired of waiting, and 
tried to get away, she found that her tail was frozen hard 
into the ice, and she could not move. She tugged and 
tugged, but it was all in vain, and every time she tugged it 
hurt her dreadfully, my lord ! I heard her screaming, and 
came to her aid, and as soon as Reynard saw me he ran 
away, laughing. I got her out at last, but she had to leave 
the end of her tail behind, and the noise she made brought 
every man within a mile on our track. It was only by good 
luck that we escaped death. What has the villain to say 
to that ? ” 

Reynard turned his eyes to heaven. “ How they slander 
me ! ” he sighed. “ Here is the truth of the matter, O 
King. It is true that I taught Dame Ersewin to catch 
fish with her tail, and a very good trick it is. But like her 
husband, she is eaten up with greediness, and though she 
caught many fish, she was not content and wanted more. 
So she stayed on the ice until her tail was frozen in. Can 
I be blamed for her foolishness ? ” 

Dame Ersewin, the Wolf’s wife, who had been listening, 
was so angry that she could hardly speak. “You are a 
false, ungrateful rogue, Reynard,” said she. “ This is 
how you repay me for saving your life ! What about 


112 


that time when I 
found you at the 
bottom of a well ? 
You had fallen in, 
and you were seated 
in a bucket at the 
bottom to keep 
yourself out of the 
water, and whining 
for help. I heard 
your cries, and 
asked you how you 
came to be in such 
a plight. 

“ ‘ I came down 
to look for fish,’ 
you answered , 4 and 
I have eaten so 
many that I am 
full to bursting. 
Now I am so heavy 
I cannot get up.’ 

“‘How shall I 
help you ? ’ I 
asked. 

“ Then you said, 
‘ Get into the other 
bucket, Aunt, and 
come to me.’ And 
I got into the other 


















bucket, and it fell quickly with 
my weight; and as I went down 
you came up, until I was at the 
bottom and you were at the top. 

“ Then you got out of the 
well and grinned down at me, 
and said, ‘ So the world wags, 
dear Aunt; one goes up and 
another goes down.’ And with 
that you went away. As for me, 
I had to stay there until I was 
nearly dead with the cold. A 
man came at last and wound up 
the bucket, and pulled me out, 
and would have killed me ; and 
although I escaped him, he gave 
me so many hard blows that I 
was sore for many a day.” 

The Fox grinned slily when 
Dame Ersewin finished her tale. 
“ Well, Aunt,” said he, “ I don’t 
see what you have got to grumble 
about. Did I not teach you 
wisdom ? It is true that you 
had some hard blows, but one 
must always suffer to be wise, 
and I had rather you had them 
than I. At any rate, you learnt 
not to believe everything that 
was told you.” 








The Wolf’s wife growled, and Isegrim spoke up again. 

“ See how he mocks at us again, my lord,” he cried. 
“ Many a time has he brought me into trouble. See, I 
have only one ear ; the other was torn away by the She-Ape, 
and all because of him. Ask him about it, and let him 
speak the truth for once in his life.” 



“ I have nothing to conceal,” answered 
Reynard. “ Here is the truth of that 
matter : 

“ One day the Wolf came to me and 
complained that he was very hungry, and 
begged me to find him some food. So 
we went off together in search of it, and travelled half 
the day, but found nothing. Then at last I spied a big 
hole in the bank, half hidden by branches, and heard a 
growling noise from within it. 

Go in, Isegrim,’ said I, ‘ and see if there is anything 
to eat in there.’ 

“ But he was trembling like a kitten, and said, ‘ I would 
not go in for the King’s crown.’ 

“ Then I, that am small and weak, crept into the hole 
to face the danger, while he, the great hulking coward, 
stayed outside in safety. 

“ The hole was very dark, and it was full of the most 
horrible smell I have ever smelled, and all the time I crept 
forward the fierce growling continued. I was a little afraid, 
but I kept on. At last I saw a great she-ape, as strong and 
ugly a beast as ever I set eyes on. Near her were three 
little apes, and they were uglier than their mother, but if 
anything could smell more horrible than she did it was 
those children of hers. I was almost overcome with the 
stench, but I spoke quite politely, and said, ‘ Good morrow, 
dear Aunt! How do you do, and all your lovely children ? 
Indeed, they are the most beautiful children that ever I 
saw.’ 

“ She was pleased at this and smiled at me. (She had 
116 



big teeth, my lord.) ‘ Welcome, Reynard,’ 
she answered. 4 You must stay here 
awhile and teach my little ones some of 
your tricks.’ 

44 But I told her I was in a hurry, and 
could not stay just then ; but that I 
would come again some other day. So 
then she took me to her larder, where 
she kept a good supply of meat of all kinds, and bade me 
eat my fill. And when I was satisfied she gave me a big 
piece to take home to my wife, and bade me a fair good day. 

“ When I came out of the cave I found Isegrim groaning 
with hunger. So I took pity on him, and gave him my 
piece of meat, and he gobbled it down in two mouthfuls. 

“ 4 Where did you get it, Reynard ? ’ he asked. 

44 4 In the cave,’ said I. 4 A she-ape gave it to me, and 
she has plenty more. Go you in and get some. But be 
careful, and praise her children, for she loves them.’ 



11 7 



“ So then Isegrim crept into the hole. But when he 
smelt the smell of the cave and saw the ugliness of the 
little apes, he cried out, ‘ Oh, go and drown them quickly. 
They make my hair stand on end. I came here for some 
meat, not to gaze upon your filthy brats ! * 

“ When she heard this the she-ape was angry, and quite 
right, too. She sprang upon the Wolf, and tore him with 
her claws, and bit off one of his ears. Serve him right, I 
say, for an ill-mannered cur.” 

At this the Wolf fairly raved with fury. 

“ I will stand no more of it,” he cried. “ We will see 
who is the traitor. Here and now I challenge you to mortal 
combat. Let us prove by ordeal of battle which of us is 
worthy.” 



118 



HOW REYNARD FOUGHT ISEGRIM THE WOLF 



HEN Reynard 
heard the Wolf 
challenge him to 
fight, he felt afraid. 
“He is ever so 
much stronger than I 
am,” he thought. “ I 
shall never be able to stand against him in open battle, 
and it does not seem to me as if my cunning will be of very 
much use.” 

To refuse the challenge, however, would, of course, be 
to turn the King against him, so he had no choice but to 
accept it with the best grace he could muster. 

Then the King bade the two choose their seconds, and 


119 




Reynard chose Grimbert the Badger, and Betelas, the young 
Ape, son of Dame Rukenaw, while Isegrim chose Bruin 
the Bear and Tybert the Cat. The battle was fixed for 
the next day, and both sides went away at once to get 
ready. 

That same evening Dame Rukenaw came to Reynard, 
and asked him how he felt. He looked at her dolefully, 
and shook his head. “ The Wolf is very strong,” quoth he. 

“ Come now,” said Dame Rukenaw. “ Keep up your 
heart. You are a long way from dead yet. I have made 
up my mind that you shall win to-morrow, and I am going 
to help you.” 

Then she took a razor and very carefully shaved every 
hair from off Reynard’s body, until he stood so smooth 
and thin that his own mother would not have known him. 
This done, Dame Rukenaw brought a flask of oil and 
rubbed it over his body until he was as slippery as an eel. 

“Now then,” said she, “ that is the beginning. You 
are a little harder to get hold of than you were before, my 
dear Reynard, and I am thinking that Mr. Isegrim is going 
to get the surprise of his life. Now listen carefully to what 
I am going to say. 

“ The Wolf is stronger than you, and he knows it. If 
once you allow him to come to close grips with you, you 
are as good as dead. What you have to do is to keep at a 
distance at the very beginning. Pretend to run away, and 
when he runs after you flop dust in his eyes with your tail; 
but be very careful that he does not seize your tail with his 
teeth. Keep your ears down flat to your head so that his 
claws cannot get at them, and dance in and out and round 


120 


and round so that he will tire himself trying to get at you. 
And now, my dear Reynard, you had better lie down and 
get some sleep, for you will need all your strength in the 
morning.” 

Reynard thanked his aunt and made himself a couch in 
some dry fern. Here he lay down and slept soundly. 

Early the next morning Reynard’s cousin, the Otter, came 
and brought him a fine fat duck for his breakfast. Reynard 
ate it with a good appetite and washed it down with a 
draught of cold water from the stream. Then he set off 
for the place of battle. 

A great space had been prepared in front of the King’s 
throne, and round about, in a ring, stood all the animals 
who had come to see the fight. When the King saw 
Reynard, all smooth and oily, he gave a great roar of 
laughter. 

“ Ho, ho ! Reynard,” said he, “ you are a wily Fox if 
ever there was one. No doubt you know what you are 
doing, yet I swear by my head that I never in my life saw 
an uglier beast than you have made of yourself ! ” 

Reynard said nothing, but he lifted the corner of his lips 
in a savage grin, and presently the Wolf came out, and the 
King gave the signal for the battle to begin. 

Isegrim wasted no time. With a savage growl he sprang 
forward at Reynard, trying to strike him with his fore-paws, 
but Reynard was too quick for him, and jumped aside. 
Again the Wolf sprang, and this time Reynard turned and 
ran away as fast as he could with Isegrim after him. Round 
and round the lists they tore. Now and again Reynard 
slackened pace and let the Wolf come nearly up to him ; 

121 



A great space had 
been prepared in 

front of the King’s 

















but each time as Isegrim raised his paws to strike Reynard 
struck his tail on the ground and raised such a cloud of 
dust and sand that before long his enemy was half-blinded. 

At last the Wolf was obliged to stop to rub the dust out 
of his eyes, but no sooner had he done so than Reynard 
turned in a flash and bit him three times in the neck. 

“Now,” said Reynard, “ you are at my mercy. Kneel 
down and crave my pardon, and I will spare your life.” 

For answer the Wolf gave a roar of anger, and, lifting up 
his foot, struck Reynard such a terrible blow on his head 
that he fell stunned to the ground. It was only for a 
moment, however. Before Isegrim could follow up his 
advantage Reynard was on his feet again, and thanks to his 
slippery body, wriggled out of the Wolfs grasp before he 
could do him any great harm. 

So, for a long time the fight went on. Ten times did the 
Wolf manage to get the Fox at close grips, but each time 
his teeth and claws slipped in Reynard’s well-oiled body, 
and he could not deal him a serious wound. At last, as he 
was running round and round, Reynard’s foot slipped, 
and, in a moment the Wolf was on him, bearing him down 
with his weight. 

Now all seemed ended to Reynard, and he felt the terror 
of death in his heart. He squirmed and wriggled like an 
eel, and, though he could not get away, he managed to turn 
on his back, and raising his hind leg, he scratched the Wolf 
in the face with his sharp claws. 

“ You villain,” howled the Wolf. “ You have put out 
my eye.” 

“ All the better ! ” panted Reynard, “ you will only have 
124 


one to wink with in the future, and it will save you a lot of 
trouble.” 

For answer the Wolf redoubled his efforts to seize 
Reynard by the throat; but, what with the slippery body 
and the clawing hind-feet, he could not succeed. 

“ I have you now ! ” he kept on saying. “ In a minute 
I shall kill you.” And, indeed things looked very bad for 
poor Reynard, who, try as he might, could not get free. 
He put his wits to work while the struggle went on. The 
Wolf managed to bite his head. 

“ Well, are you beaten ? ” said he. 

“ What’s the use of my saying I am beaten if you are 
going to kill me ? ” asked Reynard. “ If you were a 
knightly foe it would be different; you would know that 
it is a base thing to slay a vanquished enemy.” 

“ I will kill you with as little pity as one shows to vermin,” 
said the Wolf grimly. “Do not think to play any more of 
your tricks on me—I know you too well. You will never 
make a fool of me again ! ” 



125 




Now, it is unwise to make long speeches when one is 
fighting. Talk wastes the breath and takes up the atten¬ 
tion. Just as the Wolf said the last words Reynard saw his 
chance, and doubling forward swiftly, he fixed his teeth 
in the Wolfs throat. Isegrim, already weak with loss 
of blood, and half dead with fatigue, fell back in a 
swoon, and the Fox sprang free. For a moment he stood 
warily waiting, then, finding that his enemy did not 
rise, he seized him by the legs and dragged him round 
the lists in triumph, so that everybody could see that he 
was victor. 

Now, what a cheer went up from all the animals who were 
watching. Reynard's friends shouted with delight, and 
even those who hated the Fox cheered too, because they 
were afraid to be silent. But Isegrim's brother ran to the 
King and begged him to stop the fight and save the Wolfs 
life, and this the King did. 

“ You are victor now, Reynard,” said he, “ victor in a 
fair-fought fight, and mercy well becomes a conqueror. 

I charge you, let the Wolf go free.” 



126 


So Bruin the Bear and Tybert the Cat came and bore the 
senseless form of Isegrim away on a litter. They took him 
to a secret place in the woods and dressed his hurts, and 
brought the cleverest doctor among all the animals to attend 
him. And it turned out after all that the Wolf was not 
seriously wounded, although he was badly scratched and 
torn, and before long the doctor was able to send a messenger 
to his wife to say that he would live. Reynard, too, went 
away with Dame Rukenaw, who bathed his wounds and 
praised him for following her commands so well. 

“It is a good thing for you that you had me on your 
side,” said she, “ else things would have gone ill with 
you to-day.” 

“ I know it, Aunt,” replied 
Reynard, “ and I shall always be 
grateful.” 

The next day Reynard, followed 
by all his kith and kin, went to pay 



127 



his homage to the King, and the Lion smiled upon him 
and did him honour. 

“ Sir Reynard,” said he, “ you have borne yourself right 
nobly. I raise you to the office of a peer in my realm, and 
I am sure you will occupy it well. Now you are free to go 
where you will.” 

And Reynard answered : “ O King, I love you above all 
others in the world, and not for all its treasures would I be 
unfaithful to you.” 

So a little while later, headed by a band of music, Reynard 
and all his friends made their way to his castle of Malpertuis, 
where he set a great feast for them that lasted many days. 
I need not tell you how pleased his wife was to see him, 
and how proud she was of her husband, whose wit and 
cunning were greater than those of any other creature. 

Now, this is the end of my story of Reynard the Fox 
and there is not a little bit of it that is true. But the wise 
man who first told this tale long ago set it down for a 
parable to his fellows. For in a company of stupid men 
he who has most cunning shall be lord, and when men, 
forgetting their humanity, prey one upon another as the 
animals do, then he who is most ruthless among them shall 
rise to greatest honour. 

Yours, children, is the kingdom of the future. Shall the 
Fox be lord in it ? 





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